What are Genital Warts?

• What are genital warts?
• What causes genital warts?
• What are the symptoms of genital warts?
• How are genital warts diagnosed and treated?
• Can I prevent genital warts? 

Each year, more than 20 million people in the United States are diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STIs). While this number may seem staggering on its own, STIs are even more common than you might imagine—according to the statistics, more than half of all Americans are diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection at some point in their life, with an increasing number of cases each year.

When we think of common STIs, chlamydia or herpes may be the first to come to mind. However, genital warts have one of the highest incidence rates in the country for men and women.

How likely are you to contract genital warts? While it depends, many sexually active Americans will–or likely already have been–exposed to the virus that causes this condition.

In this article, we’ll go over what genital warts are, their symptoms, and how doctors treat this common infection.

What Are Genital Warts?

Like other warts, genital warts are small growths or tags of fleshy tissue that develop on the skin’s surface. They appear on or around the genitals and can occur in both men and women, varying in appearance from flat to bumpy or rough to smooth.

Once transmitted through sexual contact, it can take weeks after the initial infection before they develop. Depending on their size, color, and location, cases of the infection can present obvious changes to the skin or more subtle differences that can be hard to recognize, especially when concealed by pubic hair. Unfortunately, these less pronounced cases of the infection often escape notice until more severe symptoms develop, leading to higher transmission rates.

In more severe cases, patients often notice clusters of cauliflower-like growths that are bumpy to the touch. Warts appear on the penis or scrotum in men and in or around the vaginal area or anus in women.

However, genital warts can spread to other parts of the body as well. Patients who have oral sex with an infected person can develop them on their mouth, lips, throat, or even on their tongue.

Unlike other warts—which are not transmissible through skin-to-skin contact—these infections do spread through direct physical contact, typically during sex.

What Causes Genital Warts?

Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are close to 40 strains of HPV that affect the genital area, but only a few strains cause warts. Approximately 90% of genital warts come from HPV types 6 and 11.

HPV is incredibly common—in fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that most sexually active people acquire some form of HPV during their life.

While the virus will often disappear on its own, some HPV strains lead to genital warts and other types can cause cancer. HPV types 6 and 11, which are responsible for genital warts, do not also cause cancer.

What Are the Symptoms of Genital Warts?

Not all cases of genital warts cause patients to develop warts. Other common symptoms of the infection also include:

• Genital bleeding during intercourse
• Burning
• Discomfort
• Itching
• Pain
• Vaginal discharge

Not all patients with the infection develop symptoms. While this may seem like a good thing, asymptomatic cases are quite dangerous, since patients without symptoms often continue to have sex, unaware that they may be threatening the health of their partners.

Treatment for genital warts can help control symptoms—however, it is still possible for patients to continue transmitting the infection, even after treatment. This can happen months or even years after doctors treat the infection.

Patients with genital warts can decrease their chances of spreading the infection by reducing stress and boosting their immune systems, which will suppress transmission rates.

Genital warts are an STI that illustrates another reason why it’s so important to always have safe sex if you have multiple partners. It can be a stubborn condition that lasts a lifetime—taking the appropriate action can protect those around you while keeping you healthy.

How Are Genital Warts Diagnosed and Treated?

There is no standard diagnostic test for genital warts. There is also no cure for the virus that causes the infection. To find out if you have the condition, your doctor will:

• Ask questions about sexual history (including unprotected sex)
• Physical exam
• Apply a mildly acidic acetowhite test to increase wart visibility
• Pelvic exam (women)

Genital warts may go away over time on their own—however, the HPV virus that causes them will likely remain in your body long after physical symptoms resolve. That means you may have additional outbreaks over your lifetime. Because of this, it’s important to manage your symptoms and practice safe sex to avoid spreading the STI.

On top of healthy sex practices, your doctor may recommend topical treatments:

• Aldara (imiquimod)
• Condylox (podophyllin)
• TCA (trichloroacetic acid)

For warts that don’t disappear on their own, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove them. This is typically a minor surgical procedure that could include:

• Cryosurgery (freezes warts)
• Electrocautery (burns warts)
• Excision (cuts off the wart)
• Interferon Injections
• Laser Removal Treatment

Never use over-the-counter wart removers. Genital and hand warts are very different, as are the medications used to treat them. Typically, the medications you buy over the counter are much harsher for use on the hands and feet and not to be used on the genital areas of the body since they can damage sensitive genital tissues.

How Can I Prevent Genital Warts?

HPV infections that cause genital warts are preventable. The best way to avoid an infection is by getting an HPV vaccine.

The HPV vaccine is safe and recommended for anyone who is or plans to be sexually active. The CDC recommends the vaccine starting at nine years old. Why? Because HPV, in addition to causing genital warts, also causes cancer. The HPV inoculation protects people from HPV infections that can develop into cancer later in their lives.

Genital warts are caused by a low-risk form of HPV. Other HPV strains are high-risk and linked to cervical, penile, anal, throat, and esophageal cancers. The HPV vaccine can help prevent these cancers as well as genital warts.

You can also prevent the condition by using a condom or dental dam every time you have penetrative or oral sex. The physical barrier blocks the spread by preventing skin-on-skin contact. While these can help, if you have an active case of genital warts, avoid sexual activity until the infection is under control.

Regular preventative exams with your doctor will not only protect you, but also prevent you from unintentionally spreading the disease to those around you.

For women, doctors conduct an internal exam to check your cervix for precancerous cells. For men, doctors perform a prostate and physical exam to identify symptoms of the infection and ensure the health of your immune system. These routine screenings are quick, easy, and protect you and your partners from the risks associated with STIs and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Your sexual health matters. While STIs and STDs can be scary and frustrating, that shouldn’t stop you from getting the help you need to live healthily.

At Orlando Immunology Center (OIC), our team of experienced experts offers confidential support to help you take control of your sexual health, providing specialized care to relieve your symptoms and protect you from the risks of STIs.

Request an appointment today.